Mater Foundation calls on people to support its vital mammogram appeal

The Mater Foundation is calling on people to support its appeal to fund a new state-of-the-art mammogram machine for the Mater Public Hospital's Breast Health unit.

This cutting-edge technology uses advanced imaging, which helps in the early detection of breast cancers and is a vital diagnostic tool. Every month, the Mater Hospital detects and diagnoses 30 to 40 breast cancers, and that number is rising.

This state-of-the-art technology will help women just like mother of four Kathleen Galvin, whose worst fears were confirmed in the Mater after discovering a lump in her breast. She knows first-hand how important these mammogram machines are in the fight against breast cancer.

Kathleen, who is from Co. Longford, said: "I found a lump on my breast a few years ago. I caught sight of it by chance in the mirror as I was getting out of the shower. It was rock-hard, like a marble, and I thought that’s not right. I went to the Mater, had my mammogram and biopsies, then I went into a consulting room, and the doctor told me I had an aggressive form of breast cancer.

“You hear the word ‘cancer’, and the first thing that comes into your head is I’m going to die. That was my biggest fear. My Dad died young, and you think about your kids and who is going to look after them. But the doctors and nurses were so reassuring, and I started chemo almost straight away."

Speaking about her care in the Mater Hospital and the importance of early detection, Kathleen said: "I’m cancer-free a year now. That I’m still here today, I put that down to early detection. And that’s why this new gold-standard mammogram machine is so important and so needed. And the better the machine, the better it is at detecting cancers like mine."

Commenting on the importance of this appeal, Consultant Radiologist at the Mater Public Hospital, Dr Emma Stanley, stated: "Mammogram imaging is the cornerstone of breast cancer diagnosis and care. We just can’t function without good mammograms. For us to have a mammogram machine that we can be fully confident in, that can take the highest quality pictures, help us perform biopsies, and help find very subtle cancers, it’s really going to make a difference. Any help you can give today is so appreciated.”

Chief Executive of the Mater Foundation, Mary Moorhead, said: “The kindness and generosity of our supporters has an incredible impact on the lives of our patients from right across the country. This vital piece of equipment is so important in the early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer, which means that women like Kathleen can be treated sooner. The crystal-clear images, the subtle cancers it can detect and the speed and comfort it provides for patients marks a gold standard in breast cancer care. Providing the doctors in the Mater with this state-of-the-art equipment enables them to detect more cancers and in turn provide earlier diagnosis to more mothers, daughters, sisters and wives.”

She added: "I'd like to take this opportunity to warmly thank each and every person, every community and every company who helps bring transformative change to our hospital. Here in the Mater Foundation, we know that everything we do is only made possible by your ongoing generosity."

You can support the Mater Foundation’s Mammogram Appeal by making a donation online here or by calling the Fundraising team on 01 830 3482.